System and method for retrieving data from different types of data sources

Abstract

A method for retrieving data, the method comprising the steps of: defining output parameters of an application server ( 20 ); defining an XQuery file for retrieving data from different types of data sources ( 10 ); providing a Web service executable file that is accessible by an application program installed in a client ( 50 ) that supports the Web service corresponding to the executable file; accessing the Web service executable file, and sending parameters of search requests to the Web service executable file; invoking the XQuery file according to the parameters of the search requests, and retrieving data from the data sources according to the XQuery file; and converting the searched data into the output parameters sent to the application program. A related system is also provided.

1 . A system for retrieving data from different types of data sources, the system comprising an application server, a client and a plural of different types of data sources connected to the application server, the application server comprising:
 a parameter defining module for defining output parameters of the application server;   an XQuery file defining module for defining an XQuery file for retrieving data from the data sources;   an accessing module for providing a Web service executable file that is accessible by an application program configured in the client, the application program being configured to support the Web service corresponding to the executable file;   a data obtaining module for invoking the XQuery file according to parameters of search request sent by the application program while accessing the Web service executable file, and for retrieving data from the data sources according to the XQuery file; and   a format converting module for converting the searched data into the output parameters sent to the application program.   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the application server further comprises an authority configuring module for pre-configuring user access rights to the data sources. 
   
   
       3 . A computer-based method for retrieving data from different types of data sources, the method comprising the steps of:
 defining output parameters of an application server;   defining an XQuery file for retrieving data from different types of data sources;   providing a Web service executable file that is accessible by an application program installed in a client that supports the Web service corresponding to the executable file;   accessing the Web service executable file, and sending parameters of search requests to the Web service executable file;   invoking the XQuery file according to the parameters of the search requests, and retrieving data from the data sources according to the XQuery file; and   converting the searched data into the output parameters which are sent to the application program.   
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of pre-configuring user access rights to the data sources.